Teaching their children that it's ok to banish family members who don't live up to their expectations -
Will it come back to bite them -
Ironically, this middle child acknowledges that she was well cared for, indulged, supported, encouraged in every way, and yes, spoiled.
"Nice" parents are the worst kind.
A little deprivation and a lot of hard work go a long way toward building character.
Your Aunt Jane may have been on the harsh side, but what a great teacher she was, an host of so many happy lake outings!
Thank you for your empathy and support, @owasco!!
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haha Aunt Jane was very often red in the face pissed off and yelling about something. My father stopped speaking to her at some point, and for years. He wasn't the most placid person either, so they regularly got into really bad fights about small stuff. Her second husband was exceptionally annoying. Even my mother couldn't stand him. But she was generous and loyal, for her whole life. Just difficult because she was so volatile. We all walked on eggshells around both her and my father.
You aunt was not a spinster aunt, like mine - just childless - I got that wrong. Two husbands? How did I not see (or remember) that!
Is it just last-century families, or certain countries and cultures, e.g. India, Greece, Italy, anything Hispanic or Asian, that has family LOYALTY above all?
Is it just 21st C Americans who decree "My mom is toxic; I'm removing her from my life," and from her grandkids?
Another question.... how much have you traveled in Greece?
This wedding in July .... (check your email if you wanna know more).
If I go, I have to drive five hours or fly (which takes about as long!) to the nearest big airport, and from there, fly to Athens (or maybe to Rome, as one relative is doing, and from Rome to Athens).
Traveling to Greece takes roughly two days for me, each way.
The ceremony, reception, and beach day are all more than four hours from Athens.
Church (ceremony)
Ag. Nikolaou, Volos 382 21
Reception
Portaria, 370 11, Greece
Beach Day at Pelion
.... after the wedding, we all spend the day at Potistika
All this would be a lot just for me, not to mention my elderly mother, who would never say "That would be too much for me to endeavor to do." So, I not only have to fly to Greece, I have to make sure my dear old mum survives the flight too (how many different airports??) .... in the heat and humidity of July... and the $$$$ is not even the biggest concern.
I sent you an email